Car truck



April 11, 1939. J. A. S'IHAFER 2,153,647

v CAR TRUCK Filed Nov. 5, 1936 5 She'e ts-Sheefc 1 mvzmon ;J'ame.s' A Slag/er April 11, 1939.

J. A. SHAFER 2,153,647

CAR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fI/IIIIIIIIIIII, 10\- 1 Filed NOV. 5, 1936 INVENTOR James 4. S/zqfkr BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE UAR TRUCK Application November 5, 1936, Serial No. 109,285 19 Claims. (01. 105-197) This invention relates to car trucks. In my Patent No. 1,973,664, issued September 11, 1934, I have shown an improved car truck wherein the customary spring plank may be omitted and having various other advantages. One of the objects of my present invention is the provision of a car truck wherein the spring plank is omitted and which has been made lighter by the elimination of certain parts, and by the use of smaller diameter springs in the tension member of the side frame, which permits the construction of a narrower frame. In addition, the smaller diameter springs may be positioned closer together in a longitudinal direction, thus shortening the horizontal part of the side frame upon which they rest and increasing the strength thereof due to the reduction in the length of the beam. My invention further provides for guiding of the upper ends of the springs in the tension member by portions of the side frame. The bearing area between the side frame and bolster is, moreover, considerably larger than heretofore, thereby materially increasing the wear life of this portion of the truck. Other features and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of a truck embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking upwardly at the bottom of the bolster.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the side frame I 0 comprises a compression member II, a tension member I2, and vertical connecting columns I3, I3. Outwardly of the columns the compression member is bent down to join' with the journal boxes (not shown). The tension member I2 comprises a horizontal portion I4 of box section and upwardly sloping channel shaped members I5, I5 extending from the ends of the horizontal portion to the journal boxes. A window opening I5 is formed by the tension and compression members and columns and receives an end of the bolster II.

The horizontal portion I4 of the tension member is formed with a bottom wall I8, side walls I9, I9 and a top Wall or shelf 20. Openings 2| are larger in diameter than springs 24.

are provided in top wall 20 to receive dowels 22, 22 projecting downwardly from the end of the bolster. Extending downwardly from top wall 20 are cylindrical sleeves 23, 23 the inner surfaces of which are in line with and form continuations of openings 2|, 2|. The adjacent walls of sleeves 23, 23 may be joined by a reinforcing web 40. Springs 24, 24 are mounted on bottom wall I8 and extend into the sleeves 23 where they are contacted by dowels 22' to support the bolster. If desired, inner coils 25, 25 may also be provided to increase the spring capaoity of the truck. Lugs 45, 45, extending inwardly from side walls I9, serve to position the bottoms of lower springs 24 in one direction and projections 46, 46 limit movement of the springs in the other direction longitudinally of the side frame.

As will be seen, particularly in Figs. 2 and 4, the bolster is provided with pockets 26, 21 receiving coil springs 28, 28 which rest on shelf 20 and also support the bolster. These springs may be held in position by means of spring plates 29, 29 which are joined with the top wall of the bolster by bolts 30, 30 and nuts 3|, 3|. While only one coil spring is shown in each of the pockets 26 and 21, obviously, an inner coil may be added to each of these springs if desired. The ends of the side walls of the bolster may converge slightly toward the outer side of the frame as shown, and, in such case the transverse walls 32 of the columns would likewise converge in the same direction.

It will be noted that springs 24 are positioned in the tension member sufficiently close together so as not to extend outwardly beyond the tapered side walls of the end of the bolster. The transverse web 33 of each of the inclined members I5 may therefore start from a point substantially directly beneath webs 32 of the columns. In this manner the bottom wall I8 of the central portion of the tension member has been materially reduced in length, and since this wall acts as a beam the strength of the side frame has thus been increased.

It will be observed that the upper springs 28 The diameter of the lower springs is such that the width of the side frame is kept to the minimum consistent with the strength desired so as to maintain the weight of the side frame as low as possible. These springs, it is to be noted, are positioned longitudinally of the side frame. The upper springs 28 are arranged longitudinally of the bolster and-hence their diameter has no pockets 26 and 21, with resultant increased capacity without the addition of weight to the side frame members.

It will be apparent from an examination of the drawings, that in constructing the dowels 22, two things must be kept in mind. First, it is desirable that the lower portions of the dowels be of such extent as to form a bearing for springs 24. This eliminates the necessity for extra pieces serving as spring caps. On the other hand, the walls of the dowels must not encroach upon pockets 26 and 21 or the upper springs could not be assembled in the bolster. From Fig. 2 it will be seen that adjacent the body portion of the bolster each dowel is formed of an outer cylindrical wall 34, an inner Wall 35, the outer surface of which conforms to the configuration of pocket 26, a. wall 36 conforming to the configuration of pocket 21, and a curved portion 31 joining walls 35 and 36. Thus the upper parts of the dowels form, in effect, continuations of portions of each pocket. Walls 31 of each pocket may be joined by a reinforcing web: 44 to strengthen the interior of the bolster. Approximately in the plane of, or slightly below shelf 20 the dowels are offset to wards each other to form cylindrical ends 38 having bottom walls 4| which rest on springs 24 and 25. .The outer surface 42 of each end portion 38 provides a substantial area for contact with inner surface 43 of the corresponding sleeve 23. These large surfaces assure adequate area for wear between the dowels and side frame as well as serving as the means for tying the side frames together. Dot-dash lines 39 in Fig. 2 serve to illustrate the relation of the portions 38 of the dowels to the upper portions thereof. It will be noted that there is a slight overlap between the lower portion 38 and springs 28; however, each spring may be inserted in its respective pocket by tilting it away from the dowels until it has passed the point where walls 35 and 36 join with lower portion 38 of the dowels. The spring may then readily be moved to a vertical position in the pocket.

The overlap between springs 28 and portions 38 of the dowels may be used to keep the springs from falling out of the pockets when the bolster is raised. In this event, the retaining means comprising plate-s 29, bolts 30 and nuts 3| may be dispensed with. 01 course, the latter are useful where inner coil springs, not engageable by the bolster dowel portions 38, are employed;

In assembling the truck, lower springs 24 and 25 are first positioned in the tension portion of the side frame through openings 2|. The frame is then slid over an end of the bolster in which the coil springs have already been assembled in their respective pockets. The bolster is then lowered, permitting dowels 22 to enter sleeves 23 until they rest upon the lower springs. At this time the upper springs contact shelf 20. The truck is disassembled in the reverse order to that described above. It will, of course, be understood that while only one side frame and one end of the bolster have been shown and described that a similar side frame cooperates: with the opposite end of the bolster in like manner to complete the truck structure. r It will thus be apparent that my improved truck construction results in a reduction in the weight of the side frame and the elimination of certain parts. Moreover, the use of smaller diameter springs in the tension member has resulted in a lighter side frame for the desired capacity of truck. Furthermore, the novel trunnion construction, in which certain of the walls thereof are of the same shape as portions of the bolster pockets, has permitted the positioning of the lower springs closer together without affecting the ease of assembly of the upper springs.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a car truck including a bolster and a pair of side frames, each having a shelf, spring means on said shelf for supporting the bolster, and other spring means below said shelf, said bolster having means integral therewith and depending therefrom at each end thereof for engaging said side frames and tying the latter together, said other spring means cooperating with the means depending from the associated end of the bolster for supporting said bolster, and means projecting from the under side of said shelf into overlapping relation with said other spring means and adjacent said depending means for maintaining the latter and said other spring means in operative relation in said side frame.

2. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame having a plurality of spring supporting portions one above the other, spring means on each of said portions for supporting said bolster, said bolster having a projection extending through said upper spring supporting portion for engaging the spring means on said lower spring supporting portion, and means depending from said upper spring supporting portion and surrounding said projection and a portion of said lower spring means for maintaining said projection and lower spring means in operative relation.

3. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns, said tension member between said columns being constructed as a box section having spaced side walls and upper and lower walls forming a plurality of spring seating portions one above the other, spring means on each of said portions for supporting said bolster, said bolster having a pair of projections extending through said upper-spring supporting portion, said projections each having a spring seating portion. of substantially the same diameter as the distance between said side Walls and means depending from said upper wall and surrounding portions of said projections and the spring means on said lower spring seating portion for maintaining the latter and said projections in operative relation.

4. In a car truck, a bolster, a side: frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns, a portion of said tension member being of box section and forming a plurality of spring seating portions one above the other, spring means on each of said portions for supporting said bolster, said spring means on said lower portion being of such diameter as to extend substantially the width of said box section, said bolster having a pair of projections extending through said upper spring seating portion, said projectionseach having a spring seating portion of at least the same diameter as said lower springs.

5. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame comprising tension and compression, members and spaced connecting columns forming a window opening therewith, a hollow spring receiving portion on said side frame beneath said window, spring seats in said portion, said side frame being constructed and arranged so that said seats are positioned entirely within the distance between said columns, spring means on said seats of such diameter as to extend substantially the width of said hollow portion, and means on said bolster of substantially the same diameter as said spring means, extending into said spring receiving portion and engaging said spring means for supporting saidbolster.

6. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame comprising tension and compression. members and spaced connecting columns forming a window opening therewith, said tension member comprising a hollow central portion and upwardly and outwardly sloping end portions, the junctures of said end and central portions being spaced apart no greater than the distance between said columns, spring means in said central portion seated between the points of juncture of said central and end portions, other spring means in said window opening, means on said bolster engaging saidvupper spring means, and downwardly projecting means on said bolster engaging said lower spring means to thereby support the bolster, said last mentioned means being of substantially the same diameter as the spring means in said central portion and having surfaces thereon substantially in line with the junctures of said end and. central portions.

7. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns, a plurality of spring seating portions on said side frame one above the: other, coil spring means on said portions for supporting said bolster and means extending downwardly from said upper spring seating portion, adjacent portions of said bolster and surrounding said spring means. on said lower spring seating portion for positioning the upper end of said latter spring means with respect to said side frame and bolster.

8. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame com: prising tension. and compression members and connecting columns, a plurality of spring seating portions on said side'frame one above the other, coil spring means on said portions for supporting said bolster and means extending downwardly from said upper spring seating portion, adjacent portions of said bolster and surrounding said spring means on said lower spring seating portion for positioning the upper end of said latter spring means with respect tosaid side frame and bolster, the longitudinal extremities of said means being spaced apart no greater than the distance between said columns.

9. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame having upper and lower spring supporting portions, spring means on said portions, projecting means on said bolster extending through said upper spring supporting portion and engaging said lower spring means: for supporting the bolster, pockets in said bolster receiving said upper spring means, said projecting means having portions at the lower end thereof underlying said upper spring means for holding the latter in said pockets during assembly and disassembly of said side frame and bolster.

10. In a car truck, a bolster, a pair of side frames each having a shelf, each of said shelves having openings therein and said bolster having downwardly extending projections entering said openings for tying said side frames together, said bolster having pockets in each end thereof, spring means received in said pockets and adapted to rest on said shelves for supporting the bolster, said projections being constructed and arranged as to form continuations of portions ofwalls of said pockets.

11. In a car truck, a bolster, a pair of side frames each having a shelf, each of said shelves havingopenings therein and said bolster having downwardly extending projections entering said openings for tying said side frames together, said bolster having pockets in each end thereof, spring means received in said pockets and adapted to rest on said shelves for supporting the bolster,

portions of the walls of said projections being of substantially the same configuration as, and in line with, adjacent portions of said pockets.

12. A bolster having an end portion adapted to enter an opening in an associated side frame, spring receiving pockets in. said end portion and projections on said bolster adjacent said pockets, said projections each comprising an outer cylindrical wall, and an inner wall formed of oppositely curved portions conforming in shape to the inner surfaces of said pockets, the ends of said projections being provided with portions offset from said inner walls, and extending into overlapping relation with said pockets for holding springs therein.

13. A bolster having an end portion adapted to enter an opening in an associated side frame, spring receiving pockets in said end portion, and projections depending from said bolster adjacent said pockets, said projections being so constructed and arranged as to form continuations of walls of said pockets.

14. A bolster having an end portion adapted to enter an opening in an associated side frame, spring receiving pockets in said end portion, and projections depending from said bolster adjacent said pockets, portions of the walls of said projections being of substantially the same configuration as, and in line with, adjacentportions of walls of said pockets.

15. A bolster having an end portion adapted to enter an opening in an associated side frame, spring receiving pockets in said end portion, and projections depending from said bolster adjacent said pockets, the ends of said projections being provided with portions extending into overlapping relation with the springs received in said pockets for holding said springs therein.

16. A side frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns forming a bolster receiving window, a shelf below said window, a portion of said tension member forming a spring housing beneath said window, springs in said housing of such diameter as to substantially fill said housing transversely of said side frame, said shelf having openings therein of such size as to permit the insertion of said springs therethrough into said housing, and means projecting from the under side of said shelf into overlapping relation with and surrounding said springs and adapted to cooperate with a bolster, when assembled with said side frame, for maintaining said springs in operative relation with said side frame.

17. A side frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns forming a bolster receiving window, a shelf below said window, a portion of said tension member forming a spring housing beneath said window, springs in said housing, and means projecting from the under side of said shelf into overlapping relation with said springs and adapted to cooperate with a bolster when assembled in said side frame for maintaining the bolster and said springs in operative relation with said side frame.

18. In a car truck, a bolster, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and connecting columns forming a bolster receiving window, a shelf below said window, and springson a portion of the tension member below said window, said bolster having a pair of integral projections extending through said shelf, said projections each having a spring seating portion of at least they same diameter as said lower springs, and guiding means depending from said shelf and lying adjacent the upper ends of said springs for maintaining said projections and springs in a given relation to each other.

19. A bolster having an end portion adapted to enter an opening in an associated side frame, centrally disposed spring receiving pockets in said end portion and projections on said bolster adjacent said pookets, said projections each comprising an outer cylindrical wall adjacent a side of said bolster, and an inner wall formed of oppositely curved portions conforming in shape to the inner surfaces of said pockets.

JAMES A. SHAFER. 

